Conflicts Over ASUU Strike At Ignatius Ajuru Varsity

Conflicting reports have continued to trail whether or not the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Igantius Ajuru University of Education(IAUOE) chapter has called off the on -going strike by the union nationwide, even as the chapter and the university authorities now have different positions on the matter.

Conflicting reports have continued to trail whether or not the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Igantius Ajuru University of Education(IAUOE) chapter has called off the on -going strike by the union nationwide, even as the chapter and the university authorities now have different positions on the matter.

A statement by the chairman ASUU at IAUOE,Dr. Ugochukwu Agi, maintained that the university is still on strike. He described the strike as a comprehensive one involving all the branches of the union across the country. The statement added that Ignatius Ajuru University of Education is in total compliance of the strike action.

The statement by ASUU was against the earlier one issued by the university authorities announcing resumption of academic activities at the university. It would be recalled that, just last week, the university through its Registrar, Mrs. Hope Kue-Ikoro , in a memo to all the deans , heads of departments, HODs and lecturers informed about resumption of academic work with effect from 20 January, 2019. According to the said memo, registration exercise for all category of students would end on Monday 15, February, 2019. The memo urged all concerned to adhere to the revised academic calendar for the first semester, marking the 2018/2019 academic session.

In a reaction, the ASUU chapter of the university maintained that the university has not called off the strike action, noting that the position taken was not against the Rivers State government but in total compliance to the ASUU national leadership directive.

He assured that the union members at the university will continue with the strike pending further directives from the national leadership of the ASUU.

On the contrary, the Public Relations Officer, (PRO) of the University, Ngozi Okiridu, in a reaction said that lectures had commenced as directed by the management of the university. She insisted that majority of the lecturers had boycotted the ASUU strike.